A Photographer's mind

Tagged

2008-11-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

My friend, Shea Grubbs, tagged me on her blog, and I felt I would continue the game.

The rules are:
*Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
*Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
*Tag seven other people at the end of your post and link to their blogs
*Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I watched way too much and all kinds of television when I was a kid and to be honost, I kind of wish my parents would have monitored that a little better

I wish that more of my close friends were friends with each other.

I have a birthmark the shape and color of a peanut...in shell;)

I had a big part in why my parents stopped smoking.

I have a tendancy to like crappy movies.

Nobody...and I mean nobody gets on my nerves as much as my mother, but we are about as close as a mother and daughter can be. I'm still unclear as to how that's possible.

My first real relationship lasted 2 months, and my second is 5 years and counting.

Unfortunately I don't know 7 people to tag that haven't been tagged already so here are my lucky few.

Nicole
Brandon
the Starks

Rayana...

2008-07-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Well...for anyone who actually reads this and doesn't know yet...my baby girl has arrived! Rayana Michelle born July 5, 2008 at 1:47 am after about 4 hours of active labor. I had had signs of early labor all day..

anywho, she's now 3 weeks old and cute as can be...if Ido say so myself. There's not a whole lot I can say at the moment as I'm dog-tired and grumpy, courtesy of her and I probably won't paint the picture of the gracious adoring mother:) And instead of sleeping right now like she is, I'm up blogging because I'm not accostomed to falling asleep at 9am. oops...and she's up. Duty calls... :)

And now for an update

2008-04-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm in a slightly better mood today for no other reason than my preggo hormones are cooperating today. It could have something to do with the refreshing shower I just took:) At any rate things are going as well as could be expected. My job has slowed down to a crawl and so I've been banished to the money-counting room at my office. No...it's not bad really. I love the office gals, and it's been a lot easier on my back let me tell ya. I don't get paid as much per hour, but I'll make enough to survive:) There's still a lot of work to be done. In the fall the money comes in throughout the semester because most people prepay for the pictures. In the spring everyone pays after they've seen the picture so we get a rush of money towards the end.

And in case any of you are on the school pictures cost too much bandwagon...let me just say..true, we bring in a lot of money everyday, but you can not even begin to imagine how much it costs for us to buy and maintain all the camera equipment we use. Not to mention paying for the all the people who use it, fix it, set up your jobs and paperwork to make the schools get exactly what the want. And not just the people in your little lifetouch office. A chunk of the money you spend also goes to corporate to pay for lab technicians and storage so you have the privelage of pulling your childs name out of millions in the warehouse to order an extra sheet of wallets a year after the photo's been taken. It hurts my brain to think of the orginizational nightmare that is the lifetouch system. Most people have no idea.

Sorry about that little rant...it's funny in the money room how many people will include little notes of disapproval with their payments.

Moving right along to me! We decided to not pick baby's name until she gets here. So don't bother asking, we don't know.(guess that was moving along to baby...) For now, she will be fondly referred to as 'baby'. Original isn't it;) We are in the the middle of childbirth class which goes for 8 weeks. Some of it is stuff i can live without, but apparantly all of it is stuff my husband can live without. We've been three times and each time he spends a sizable portion of the class wandering around the parking lot. and the rest of the time sitting in the lobby, listening but not participating. It's a bummer to have to the the couple activities on my own, but on the other hand he could just refuse to go at all. He could think of hundreds of other ways he'd rather spend that 2 1/2 hours and even if he's not always in the room he continues to go and will continue to go because I want him to go. Though most woman will argue with me and tell me that's not enough, those women have not met James:) better still those women are not in love with the meat head. That little bit of what he's doing is actually making an effort in his world. So...all I can do is hope he catches some of the important things and puts them into practice. And perhaps I will be one of those dictator laboring women and be able to tell him and everybody exactly what it is they need to be doing. That will make it easier for him I'm sure;)

As for my life in Austin...well. I don't know. I feel like I got nothing going for me but work and baby. I have nothing else to talk about and am desperate to get a life. Any suggestions? Anyone up for bowling or a game of movie trivia? any cheap austin hobby suggestions?....

Beware...way tmi

2008-04-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

OK, so this post is a pretty "too much information" but couldn't help myself, I just had to let it out:) It will be quick.. :)

So don't you just hate when you are just finishing a shower and you are feeling all fresh and clean and good-smelling, when no sooner do you step your foot out of the tub, you realize you have to go to the bathroom. Not just a quick tinkle and leave...I mean the other one. Darnit!! So much for feeling fresh and clean...

2008-03-20T21:38:00.001-07:00

At the request of several friends, I have decided to update my blog. So much is going on that it just kind of slips my mind. I am now almost 6 months pregnant and not really showing yet. I have yet to buy a thing for the baby, mostly because i have no idea where to put it. The apartment is small with only one bedroom and i'm not really sure we can afford to get a bigger place. My husband is not adjusting so well to his move to Austin. He has a temp job that he's been at for a few months and he seems to like it there. But he's never lived anywhere other than our hometown ever in his life. He didn't even go away to college. Throw in a brand new baby plus a higher cost of living and....well. You can understand how thing could be stressful for him.

I'm still working for Lifetouch and my bosses seem very willing to work with me on my pregnancy. I work with a smaller set of equipment now and only work about 3 days a week, 4 max. It sucks because now would be a good time to stock up on money since I'm gonna be out of work for at least 2 months, but with my kind of job it's really important I try to take it easy.

I'm trying to think of something positive to say here but nothing's coming to mind:) everyone's waited a while for a blog from me only to be given unexcited news. Maybe I'll be in a better mood tomorrow. We're going home for easter and I think it will be good for me to see my family. till whenever

late..

2007-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry. Goodness It's been forever since I've written in this thing. So many things have happened since my last post. I bought a car, which cost a bit more than my budget, but I'm making it work. I moved to Austin...without my husband(don't worry we're still together). I've celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary, just got my first ever own apartment. I transfered with my job with Lifetouch as a school photographer , but may have to quit soon as there is a lot of heavy equipment involved as well as standing on my feet all day, and I am 8 weeks pregnant expecting my first child.

Wow. It seemed like a lot but somehow I've managed to fit the bulk of it in one paragraph:) I had an ok Thanksgiving. I'm dealing with tummy troubles so I didn't enjoy the food as much as I usually do, but I choked it down slowly. I discovered it's even worse if I don't eat.
Oh yeah...my husband will be moving to Austin with me in one week! December 1st. Although I have to say we've gotten along famously apart, I miss him and am very excited to have him join me. We've been apart since mid-august.

Well...I don't have anything else terribly exciting to say so I'm gonna cut this short. Judging by my track record I'll probably get back to you when my baby's several months old:) but maybe sooner.

Vultures and other predators

2007-05-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

so...I now have the very unfortunate task of trying to buy a car. Now, I only have a spending limit of about $5000 (yea, I know that's not a whole lot, but I like small car payments, get off my back) , so it's unlikely that I'll find a vehicle of this price in your typical bigwhig car lot. But...just in case I thought I'd just breeze through a few lots to see what they had to offer. Didn't want to talk to anyone..just look. So I opted to not stop the car at all, just keep rolling right in, then right out. One of the lots I went to I was on my way out and had to stop because there was a tow truck in front of me waiting to turn left. I figured I'd be safe since I was on my way. I looked left and there was some strapping young lad with a chester cheetah grin heading in my direction. I immediately started to roll up my window, but I wasn't fast enough. He hand was already inside as he chirped "well hello there, my name is skip(or something like that), How are you today? We sure appreciate you stopping in to look. What kinda vehicle you looking for? What was your last car? Well we have this nice 07 grand am here....." and so on and so on...dribble dribble dribble. By the end of it he took my number in case he found a car he thought might work for me (but didn't write down the kind of car I wanted since I didn't actually tell him) and he gave me his card. Told me if I found something I liked on any of the four patterson lots to give him a call and he would come over and help me. in other words "I claim this commission in the name of SKIP!"

really...i just wanted to look.

jury duty

2007-04-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

And not the fun little witty movie starring Pauly Shore. Today I did my first round with the infamous Jury Duty. My husband, beforehand, assured me that the first day is really just the morning. No...got there at 8:45. Assigned to jury panel that met at 10:00. spend the next 30 minutes waiting to get in the courtroom with 47 other people. Then spent the next hour and half listening to prosecutor explain certain laws and interrogate people who don't understand the concept of hypothetical questions. If someone says...the punishment for this crime is 2 - 20 years...would it be possible for you to consider that punishment, can you think of any possible set of circumstances where you could consider a punishment within that range, you can't say...I don't know I'd need to know all the facts first.

"No ma'am...we're not asking if you think this particular crime deserves a 20 year sentence, we're asking if you'd be open-minded about considering a 2-20 year sentence should the defendent be found guilty...could you consider it?"

"I'm not sure, I'd really have to have the evidence to determine that."

Am I the only one that understands that these people aren't getting it? I know it doesn't sound like much but after a grand total of 3 and half hours of people responding to questions like that, I wanted to gouge my eyes out. at about 3:20(we did stop for lunch), the judge asks us to take a 15 minute break then wait in the hallway and people would be called in one by one to speak with them. at 4:40 we were finally all asked to come back in. At which point we were told by the judge that after the break the attornies approached him to work out a plea bargain. A jury would not be needed after all. (sigh)...he explained to us that our answers and discussions that day had helped in determining the specifics in the plea bargain and the decision to do it at all. We had all provided a great service that day. I'm so glad.

The culprit

2007-04-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

well, I got the test results back from the doctor and it turns out I was positive for Salmonella. Naturally I called my mother and told her to which she exclaimed, "Oh my God, someone was trying to poison my baby! People can die from that sort of thing. Where did you eat?? don't you eat at that school cafeteria again!" Hehe. mothers. So I got a case of food poisoning. Who knows from where. I keep insisting to my mother that the bacteria in question could have come from my own home. She's not buying it. Someone in the food service industry is apparantly trying to do me in. It's amazing how much better I feel now that I know what the problem is...now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.

Sick!

2007-04-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

I hate being sick. I've been all nasty sick for the past three days. Headache, bodyache, chills, fever, stomach problems. And I'll tell you the biggest mistake I made, and it's not the unidentified meat taco I bought from the street like you might think. I called my mother at the beginning of my sickness. All these years of experience of being sick as an adult should have taught me to call my mother after the fact. Not saying anything for all you other mothers out there. You may be perfectly calm and rational when your grown child with spouse gets sick a couple hundred miles from you. Slight fever and stomach bug might warrant 2 or 3 calls a day until the sickness is over to give some helpful advice and see how he/she is doing. My mother has called me and/or my husband 6 to 8 times a day to check on my well-being and command me take take baths in cool water and alchohol, take tylenol, and orange juice, and plenty of water, and orange juice, put the cool towel on your head. what's your temperature now. How about now. Did you get that tylenol. Why are you home? why aren't you at the docter. Your temperature is 100 degrees! What are you thinking being at home...go to the emergency room! Where is your husband?? James!?!? JAMES!!! Why is my daughter at home? take her to the emergency room. NOW ! Now James. She's sick! Do I have to come up there??? Don't make me come up there?!?!? (10 minutes later) Is she dressed? Is she in the car? How is she now...has the docter seen her....

She calls me at 7 am...promises to call me on her lunch break, then calls me at 8 am and on her lunch break. Doesn't she know sick people are supposed to rest?

I love my mother. I really do. And I respect the fact that mothers get a little excited when their children are sick and they are not there to take care of them. But for crying out loud...did I really have to go the emergency room? I went as requested, but when I realized the wait was going to be 3 to 4 hours, I decided it wasn't worth it and went home without seeing the docter. The next day my dad took me to the clinic and I was prescribed some antibiotics. My mom was upset with my dad because he didn't make it to the emergency room the night before. My dad seemed to think i was'nt that bad. Just sick. She told everyone I was like deathly ill. One of my aunts even called me last night because her daughter told her my other aunt told her that I was in the hospital.

(sigh). In the past when I'm sick or even when I go out of town, I find it's best to tell my mother towards the end. When I starting to feel better or when I'm safely at my destination. She always freaks, and in my opinion goes a little overboard. I don't know what made me think this time would be different. I really did feel like crud, but you know...people get sick. My husband is perfectly capable of taking care of me and of notifying my family if it's anything serious. Well...if nothing else, at least I know I'm cared for. thank God for that:)

Sugar Ray

2007-03-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Well...sadly I had to say goodbye to my precious cat Sugar yesterday. He was sick and we couldn't get him to take his medicine so we knew he wasn't going to get any better. He stopped eating and sat in the same little spot for two days. I was very sad and immediately went to my husband's job for a second to cry on his shoulder after leaving the vet's. But I'm feeling better now. It's funny how used to him I was. I keep expecting him to run to the door as usual when I come home. And I make a point to make sure all the doors are closed, forgetting I mainly did that to keep him out of certain rooms. I'll miss him, but I think it was much better for me to let him go. My poor baby gets so scared in vets' offices he pees and poops everywhere and tried to attack everyone including me. The vet was able to give him a shot to put him to sleep, so we thought it best for everyone to leave the room until it took effect. I figured I might as well just go home. I didn't really want to see him that way. My last image of him was attacking the back of the chair he was sitting on. A good reflection of him. He was always such a scaredy cat he was constantly attacking random things that snuck up on him...like walls. or my husbands toes:) On that note I say my final goodbye the Sugar Ray the cat:)

Playing Catch-up

2007-02-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

So...it's been a while since I've logged into this thing. Not sure if anyone still even reads this. But what the hey. So for anyone who doesn't know...I didn't get the job on the air force base. Turns out they decided to give the other girl a second chance and she has been doing very well. Hurray for her.

I am also no longer working for university. I have actually went back to working for Lifetouch. Still stressful. working with a lot of new people. I got a raise for coming back, but I still don't think it's enough. It was a hard decision to make, but it basically boiled down to the fact that I had higher earning potential at Lifetouch and...that kind of office work is not for me. I'm the creative type. Security and paid sick leave is lovely, but for me, it's not worth being stuck behind a desk all day..watching the clock, patiently waiting for 5 o'clock to roll around. It was very nice and minimal stress, but I just didn't really like it.

Not like I love Lifetouch. I'm ready to give it up. Or at least break away from road photography. Maybe if I was in the studio. I don't know. I know that I'm tired of not being happy with my job. Is it weird to love the work, but not the job? I drove 3 hours yesterday to a school that had all of 70 students. Sweet kids...but my boss just paid me for 6 hours of driving and probably made...maybe $500 out of it. Ah well.

I feel like this town is stifling me. I spent 5 years of constantly moving around and seeing and doing things. I spent the last two years doing jack squat. I'm so bored out of mind I'm tempted to just pick up and move. Just quit my job, pack up everything and be outta here in like 2 days. I'm planning a move very soon. Probably sooner than my husband would like...but I"m so tired of being here. I don't know exactly what I want to do with my life, but how can I pick something if I don't know what's out there ya know?

If you can't tell, I'm feeling kind of down this morning. Probably not the best time to update my blog after such a long absence. But that's life.

One good thing, is that I actually got my husband to agree to let me take one course at the Academy of Art University in San Franscico. After months of pleading. The month before class started was buried in issues and the stress of trying to decide where I wanted to work. Also they were trying to get me into the Master's program for which I was not prepared. I ultimately decided that I couldn't commit what I wanted to the class and therefore not worth all the money I would have had to spend on it. Besides...I want proof that the Bachelor's degree is going to do something for me some day before I invest in a Masters. Especially one that expensive.

However I still have the textbook...so I guess I'll just go through and see what I can do by myself. One of these days I will make something of myself. It's just...not a whole lot has been working out for me lately. Did I mention someone managed to get my savings account number and transfer money out of it using paypal, through which my savings account is not even linked. Not just once. It happened a month or two ago so I closed my account and opened a new one. Then a couple of weeks ago it happened again to the new account. So I'm thinking I'm either going to have to shut down my connection with paypal or take my savings account to another bank. I've gotten almost all of my money back...but it's so frustrating.

Sorry for all the belly-aching, but this is basically my personal journal, so what you get is what you get. Maybe next time I'll be feeling better. I hope so. I'm aiming to move in May. September at the very latest, whether my husband's ready to go or not.

Past regrets

2006-10-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

So...here's my dilema. So I'm at my new job and it's ok. not exciting, but stable. Non-stressful. So my friend Harry, who used to work at lifetouch with me called and said there's a slight possibility that someone where he works is about to get fired and he thinks I would be a great person to take her place. He works as a photographer on the air force base and the job I would be up for is in their studio..standard military portraits. Pay is good and I will actually still be taking pictures which I love. There looking for someone with a degree which is good for me, but they are also looking for someone with a portfolio which I do not have. How did I graduate from college with no portfolio? How did I go another 4 years as a photographer without one image I would deem good enough to go in a portfolio. Don't get me wrong...I did good work for Lifetouch...unfortunately it was basically contract work for a company that photographs underage students. I've asked to see if i could use any of that for a portfolio, and i haven't got a definate response yet..ya know things have to be checked into. But even if i do, I know it will probably be this big ordeal of finding the 20 out of a thousand photographs and then obtaining written permission from every person to let a perfect stranger have access to their senior photo for her own personal use. Doesn't sound like something protective parents would allow their kids to sign up for.

So I don't know what to do. Odds are, I would love this job so much more than the one I have now, not to mention it also pays more. I could probably swing a decent resume and my references always gives me glowing reviews. But will they take someone who has nothing to show. No examples of what I can do, and who's to say what I can do is all that great anyway. I've always felt like a decent photographer..but not good. I'm not overly passionate about my work. I'm not addicted to photography, but I love it. So is what I have enough? I don't take it upon myself to just photograph things because I want to. I love the mission, I love having an assigment. I need to have direction. So...is there anyone out there that would like to give me an assigment. Probably the only thing that will motivate me to get off my butt. Leave me an assignment on my blog and I will get to it and share my results. What would you like me to photograph? I have a lot of creative friends..surely someone will think of something to help me. I'm drowning in my own self-doubt. Can I really do this? do I have what it takes to be more than a mediocre photographer.

I'm trying to convince my husband to let me take online digital photography courses with the Academy of Art University in San Fransciso, which is I school I would have loved to have gone to right after my intership. Unfortunately they are very expensive and I was already in debt and couldn't afford tuition and moving. Now they have these online courses I really want to take, but their classes are $600 an hour. 3 hours per course. Which is very expensive. for me anyway. So I really want to go and think it will offer training that will help me get a job. But it's expensive. And I wonder if it is worth it in the long run. I think it probably would be...but I'm not sure. And that's a lot of money to put down on a gamble. Any thoughts? suggestions?

Also...any prayers that this new job will in fact be open and be mines would be greatly appreciated:)

hired!

2006-08-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

So...I got tha job i applied for. hurray? It's weird. I'm just not as excited as I thought I would be. Probably because I just saw an ad for postal workers that pay twice what I'm going to get. I was actually planning on applying for that job. But maybe its for the best. maybe it's not a good idea for a photographer to be used to having money:) So I'll be working in the registrar's office. It's weird...being on salary. it means no matter how much work I do I will never get any more. course it also means how little work I do.... Plus it only pays once a month. so I'm not getting paid again until Oct. 1. blech. Mom says I should try postal anyway. see if they got any part time evening jobs. I think my husband should apply too. It's just hard because last fall I brought home $1000 every two weeks. now I'll be bringing home only a litle more than that per month. course...I was working my butt off for that paycheck and got no where near that for several months out of the year.
We'll see. My family thinks I will really like this job. I hope I will. I should feel blessed. I mean...how many people applied for this job and didn' get it. They wanted me. I went through two interviews...and they wanted me:) Cool huh? Guess I should brush up on all those computer programs I said I could use.

any pray-ers out there?

2006-08-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

so...I let Lifetouch sucker me into another week which ended this past Friday. hoo-rah. I came back monday and dropped off my key and took my award plaque off the wall of the front lobby. My boss is still trying to talk me into letting her put me on the schedule. Nothing doing. My big boss is asking all kinds of questions trying to see if I have plans to come back or not. Seriously...why don't people just ask straight out. So I can give them a flimsy non-committal answer?:)

So...I applied for a job at the local University at the registrar's office. (sigh)..so not lifetouch. It's an 8-5. state job so good benifits and all that. I had an interview last week and low and behold they called me yesterday to request a second interview. Which I have just come from. Last time it was just the Registrar Directer...today it was with her and the assistant directors. Who likes to be interviewed by three people at the same time? anyone... no hands? But..I still think it went well. I mean...they laughed..that's a good sign right? Of course she had to ask my what my goals were. and I gave...a flimsy non-committal answer. I mean who want's to say "To work here for one year to earn enough money to blow this popsicle stand and move on with my life." no no no. But there's still a good chance I may get this job and I so would rather work there than at Budget again. So if there are any pray-ers out there...well...you know what to do:)

Photographer for hire

2006-08-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

I almost can't believe it, but I gave my notice at work Thursday. Next Saturday is my last day at Lifetouch. I was out of town when I did it. I called my boss , so there's a small chance that Monday he might talk me into staying.
I'm kind of dealing with mixed emotions here. I'm happy to leave behind he exhaustion and working so hard for less money than I think it's worth. but I'm scared out of my mind. I have no job. Nothing lined up, nothing I'm looking into. I'll just be unemployed. I should perhaps stick it out until I find something else, but the idea of having to work there for another fall season makes me wants to smash my foot with a hammer. I'm mentally and physically tired of traveling around so much and working so hard on my feet. I don't want 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. I'm starting to not care about the pictures I take, and I don't want to be turned off of photography or take crappy pictures just because I'm grumpy at work.
So I quit. I'm so scared. I don't really know what should do now. I want to work, but I'm afraid of getting a job that I hate even more than the one I have now. I want a few months of happy before i get out of this town.
My dad thinks I may have made a mistake. Mom thinks I did the right thing. I need a little time to decide for sure. who knows...maybe I just need a month or two break. Or maybe this lifetouch can just kiss my butt:)

The money-making machine

2006-06-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

so...I've mentioned on adam's blog that I asked for a raise today. Asking for more money is one of the most nerve-wrecking things you can do. I've been building up the courage for months to say "Terry, you got a minute? I was wondering if I could get a raise?" Way to plead your case cherese! He said he was in the process of going through the budget for this fiscal year and could get back to me in a couple of weeks. So I made him pinpoint it to about mid-July. Exactly three weeks from today I will ask again. If he doesn't give me one I'm quitting. I'm a very hard worker and it's so not fair I'm getting paid the same as I did 2 years ago. Same as people who've only been there a year. Same as people who have come and gone, who only work summers, who refuse to go on the road, which let me tell ya, is much harder than staying in the studio. Is it so wrong to want a little compensation. Do you have to be perfect in order to get a raise or can you just be good and knowledgable at your job. I've been there at least a year longer than every other road photographer. I know that I've made this complaint before and I'm glad I've finally got the nerve to ask for a raise. But for some reason I get the feeling he's stalling. Like he's going to push this as far as he can before talking about it. He's got 5 weeks. 3 to get his budget together and if not then...a 2 weeks notice. I have a feeling he won't want to lose me in the middle of senior season. if he does. then he has a problem of not respecting the works his photographers do, and I don't want to work for him anyway.

complaining over.
signing off.

new opportunites

2006-06-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

So...
For those who don't know I have officially decided to move to Austin. Hurrah!! However I will not be leaving until January. Which will give my husband a little time to wrap his mind around the whole idea. I am very very excited. My first big move...ya know that isn't related to school or internship. I'll actually have to apartment hunt. Then furnish said apartment. take care of utility connections. Search for a church. I'll be adult. How cool is that???
Second I have decided to try to build up my portfolio. I'm not much of a self-motivator so this is going to be difficult for me. I've gotten in touch with the local community theatre and the editor of a small weekly newspaper here in town who says he'll be more than happy to to publish my photos. They are flexible and are willing to publish more creative photos not usual in regular newspaper. Course I will actually have to just photograph whatever and give it to him. Not so much assignment, and there's no pay. But it will hopefully help me to get off my butt and get back into photographing. He even said covering the theatre would be a great help to him, and since that's what I love to do... So hopefully that will work out for me...in a rush now, so that's all for the time being. I'll try to keep ya posted.

Allllll byyyy myyy se-e-elf

2006-05-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to really feel the strain of having no friends here. It always get's this way during the slow time at my job. I suddenly realize how little life I have outside of my job and how I have like no friends here my own age. Cept for my co-workers, and we don't exactly like to do the same things for fun. Before I got friends from school or church. Now I'm not in school, and my church is dead. Well not dead, but as my grandmother says most members "gpt one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."
I want someone to friggen hang out with, and with work consuming my life, and fear of going out alone...I have no way to meet anyone. I don't even know enough people to have a pity party. I'm not sure how to remedy this. I mean I love hanging out with my best friend and her hubby(they're supposed to be moving a lot closer soon) but for now they are far away, but they have 4 kids and a lot of drama. It's so different hanging out with people with kids when you have none. We're just not into the same things. My life's about me and my husband...she lives for her kids.
Maybe..with this incident at my church it will give us a chance to find another church with more young people to hang out with. But I'm so bored and lonely I've resorted to cleaning up my house. I bought a new doorknob for my bathroom and replaced it myself. I completely cleaned the refrigerator which honostly, has not been cleaned since my mom moved out 9 years ago and had some nasty spills that were ignored. I know..gross. and tomorrow. I'm painting the ceiling in my kitchen. I gotta get outta here or before you know it...the whole house will be in shape. I'll be like...a homemaker. I mean...some of you have seen my rooms from college...can you really see that? scary huh?:)

On another note. I finally purchased an ac adapter for my ibook clamshell. Old as she is...she'll be up and running soon. I figured I'd better get her going since she's my only computer with Photoshop, and with the lovely new camera I need a program to play in:) man...there was the laptop on ebay for $800. fully loaded with 2k worth of software including photoshop cs and all kinds of fun little graphic, webpublishing stuff. It was used by a radio station. Original program cds included. I would have been all over it, but hubby's still trying to recover from the near $700 spent on my camera. He would have had a heart attack. But it sure would have been sweet. (sigh)

Camera's here

2006-05-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! I got my camera on Tuesday. I'm so happy I could poop:) Not the daunting task of trying to learn how to use it. Maybe I should rent an instructional video:) I also learned that I don't have the right flash for my camera, However I can still use it as long as I set my flash on manual instead of automatic. It's a booger, but it can be dealt with until I'm able to get another flash. It's quite visably used, but not beat up or anything. Works great. I have already taken over 95 pictures. I flew into Seattle yesterday to visit my brother and sister-in-law who live in Oak Harbor. They took me on this underground tour which takes you under the city of Seattle, where people used to live before the fire in 1889. They rebuilt that section of the city over the old section. It was actually pretty interesting. Seattle is such a neat place with everything built on mountains and hills. I've never seen such steep roads, buildings that slant on the bottom floor and people living on so many different levels of elevation in one city. I got lucky and landed on a beautiful sunny day. Once I get back home and load up some of my pictures I'll put them on my blog for you guys to see. I would do it here, but I don't have the software to install on my brother's computer in order to use my usb cable. ah well. But hopefully the rest of the trip will be as nice and I will go back home without ever having to experience the rain and fog and dreariness that all too often is seattle. God willing.

Hurray for me!

2006-05-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

I finally won a camera on ebay. Yahoo! Hopefully it will be here within the next week or so. It's a used Canon 10D, but it comes with the cables and battery, charger, manuals, software..all that. Plus a vertical grip. And I got a decent price for it all, at least I think. Also, it turns out the guy who I'm buying the camera from lives in New York and is a photographer for television series' like Cold Case. So I sent him a message telling him I was interested in that line of work, and if he could kinda tell me he got started. He wrote me back and said he was going to buy me a new battery and throw in a 256 MB memory card. And if I just give him my regular email address, he could write me in more detail about his work. And before anyone get's nervous, ebay messaging restricts the number of characters. So for a long email, it just wouldn't work.

I also got a new still-in-package 2gb memory card for $41. did I mention I love ebay.

I can't wait to get my new camera...I hope it will awaken my photographic urges and I'll be inspiried to take pictures of pretty much anything, like I used to. I miss being known as "camera girl" around the acu campus. how cool was that. The euphoria of a new camera has wiped away my anger with ebay. Hooray for ebay.

On a different note. So different in fact, it should probably be it's own post, but...laziness prevails. My pastor was voted out of my church on Sunday. I've written before about the struggles we were having. I don't believe he was completely honost, but he is human. I cannot expect perfection. I understand that the elders of the church wanted him out. They had an impromptu vote to get rid of him. No warning. Just a meeting after church, and all members were to vote. They got the vote by signing a petition; 10 deacons signed. ONe, I might add, has only attended church 2x in the past year. members were suddenly present that hadn't been there in weeks, I believe pre-warned about the vote and asked to come to strengthen the side of those that wanted our pastor gone. Like I said. he wasn't the most honost man I met. But I do believe him to be a man of God. I believe he was young and new and trying to bring our church into the 21st century.

One of the charges they brought against him was that he wanted a second line in the church. And he wanted a computer for his office. And frankly he just wanted them to do things they were not used to doing. They did all but admit they were old, set in their ways and rejected change. They complained about how much money he was costing. but he has no control over the finances. He can only spend what they allow him to spend..ya know?

At the meeting people I thought i respected made rude comments, shouted at him, wouldn't let him even try to defend himself. Is this really my church family acting like this. It's hard to explain, but the way the behaved broke my heart. I was so upset I just left. He told them that the procedure was to give a two week notice before a vote is made to remove the pastor to allow all members to be present if they so chose. They would not respect that. Demanded that the vote be made that day and everyone had to chose. even people like me, who still didn't know the whole story.

I cried the whole way home. I don't know...what to do. My and james are debating if we even want to go back. if nothing else, take a break. I would hate to think I would treat them with the same anger with which they treated our pastor who they said they still loved. I don't know what to believe, or who to believe. But I do know this...i do not think my church, handled the situation well. There was no shred or love, compassion or forgiveness in any of their tones. I don't know if I can get over it enough to keep going there. pray for me please....

Ebay is the devil

2006-05-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Ok...so maybe that's a little harsh, but it has been making me want to pull my hair out. The good news. All but two items sold, with the total profit amounting to $60.88. Ya hoo for me. Bad news. Problems!! A buyer had to get an attitude with me over the method of payment. I said I accepted paypal, but not credit cards. So she tried to pay me with a credit card through paypal. My paypal account didn't except credit cards, so she sent me a nasty gram, because i was not completely honost in my original description. Which is true. But not because I was trying to be deceitful and lure naive bidders in with a paypal promise, it was just pure and simple ignorance on my part. I didn't know. So to appease her (who's total bid, by the was was only like $4.50 including shipping) I had to upgrade my paypal account to accept the cards, and the charge a $0.30 fee everytime someones sends me money, plus 2.9% of whatever the total transfer is. So that sucks about 8 dollars or so off my entire profit. Booo!

Then of course, it turns out somethings are heavier than I had thought, and the shipping more expensive. I had to eat the cost of the extra shipping. Of course..there are a few who paid 3.50 for shipping, when it only cost $0.87, but we'll skip over that.

Then on this one auction I told someone the auction was for twelve things, but I'd send him 5 slightly damaged ones for free if he paid for the shipping. I packed them up to ship...only had 16 . What the heck happened to that other one?!?! I had to write this letter of apology, but fortunately he was cool with it. To top it all off I have two people who have yet to pay or even communicate with me, and the auctions were over a week and a half ago.

Finally getting over my selling fiascos, I decide to buy a digital camera. I see this one I really really want. And I lose the auction. So I bid on this other one that's still good, but not exactly what I wanted. Currently I'm the high bidder and likely to stay that way. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose again. Then...what's this...an email offering me a second chance on the first one. the one I really wanted. Not at the winning price, but my first original bid, almost $100 cheaper. This can't be happening. Of course there's still a chance that I might lose. highly unlikely. So I appealed to the seller, asking if he will release my from my bid, should I win, and take the second highest. I think I said something about a circumstance preventing me from affording it. Not lying of course. Buying my second chance camera, will prevent me from being able to afford his right? right? I know it's awful...but it will save me $100 and get me the exact camera I wanted. Please the second highest bidder is only $10 down from me.

It's causing me stress. But I know that once it's all said and done, I will be much better off. I will have my digital camera (whichever one) and finally be rid of some of the wedding junk, that's just been sitting around.

Sorry about all the complaining. It's life, you know. It gets to you sometimes.

Wecome to ebay

2006-04-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

So I've bought several things on ebay before. camera's, laptop, wedding supplies. But I've never really sold anything on it. I mean not really. I've been meaning to sell my old wedding stuff for ages. Leftovers and things I didn't use all of. I put 13 different items on auction. I tell you what, after one day I already have bids. It's so exciting. If you've never sold on ebay I suggest you try it. It's down right theuraputic. I was kind of in a funk this morning until I checked my ebay to find 10 bids on my lot of 154 friggen silver wedding bells. Lifted me right up. I mean, you never know if people will be interested in what your selling...but ya know...one man's junk. course I don't know if any of the other stuff will sell. Not all in the best of shapes, but ya never now. Tell me what you think the odds are that someone will buy 80 unused silver napkins stored in ziploc bags instead of their original packaging. Some might so..eww..not very sanitary. I would say...what the heck? no one at my wedding will know...and they look clean enough judging from that 1x1 inch photo included there in the auction;)

I've had a rough week. hubby troubles. Don't worry, no divorces in my future, but I've sure been longing for those dating days. Little advice for the singles. Be together for a couple of years before you get married. See if you still like it once it gets boring...after you turn into the old ball and chain;) But I imagine it gets like that for nearl every marriage....maybe if I rub some motor oil behind my ear... :)

I hate the internet.

2006-03-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

well...I had a brilliant post all laid out here. It was so clever and witty it would have increased my popularity and favor among those that read my blog. Alas, the blogger site was down, and my microsoft word broke down everytime I tried to save the information. It's now gone and seeing how that was 2 days ago, I haven't the foggiest what I was even talking about. Ah well. Maybe some day it will come to me and I'll get to tell you all about it. But it just won't be the same...ya know?

Stop babying me!

2006-03-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ok...so I understand that it's becoming the norm for a lot of people to have children before they get married, but why does that lead people to believe that if you get married first, your behind and must hurry to catch up? I do not want a baby right now. I do not...want a baby...right now.

First it was my parents...my mom especially, a week after marriage asked for grandkids. Then these ladies at my church keep grinning at us and making the rocking baby arms motion in our direction. Now it seems like, whatever is currently ailing me is a symptom for pregnancy.

"My feet hurt."
"Are you pregnant?"

"I've been so hungry today."
"Are you pregnant?"

"I can't seem to get this thing that's stuck in my tooth."
"You're pregnant aren't you?"
" NO!!!! I'm not now, nor will I ever be pregnant!"

Ok...so that's probably a lie. I will more than likely be pregnant at least once in my lifetime, but sometimes I just want to say it to keep people of my back

I swear...not everything makes me pregnant. Sometimes my feet just hurt, or a have a big appetitte or I'm forgetful, or a I throw up in the morning(just kidding) But someone asks me if I'm pregnant at least 3 times a week.

Give me a break already. We don't all have to reproduce early. It'not like 26 is some magic age that after that is will be too late. Although...I do think it's funny that out of all my college friends that are married only one couple is about to have a baby. The rest of us are just fine being just a couple for the time-being. I wonder if they are all being pressured as well?

Tax Offenders

2006-02-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

I can't stand it when people cheat on their taxes. Especially people who are supposed to so Christian and righteous. It just boggles my mind how they don't see it as wrong. For instance someone asked me to do their taxes for them. Ok sure. Well...she wanted to claim two little boys as her dependents that were not hers. She got the mother's permission and everything, but it still made me very uneasy. She goes on and on about God and her love and devotion to him, and as Christians we are directed to generally respect the laws of our Government. How could she cheat? Does she know how much trouble she'll get into if she got caught. I mean couldn't I even get in trouble for doing it for her? I'm trying get over this, happened a couple of weeks ago, but I just can't shake how guilty I would feel for being a part of it. I checked it and she would have gotten over six grand back. But then she told me not to tell the boys' mother that total. To just tell her that she would have gotten $3,000 so she would not have to give the mom as much money and could keep most of it for herself. So she plans to lie and then actually asked me to do the same. I can not explain her how pissed off that makes me feel. she even suggest I claim one of my cousins so I could get more back. Why would she put me in that position?

I know that tons of people all over the place cheat on their taxes year after year and get away with it. I just can't condone it and I will not do her taxes. Not like this.

The times of lives of twenty-sometihngs

2006-02-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

You'll never believe who I hung out with yesterday. Anna! Woo-hoo..got to hang out with a college buddy. and uh...a few other friends of her's that I had never met. But they were very cool and I just made myself at home. there. at the bowling alley:) I came in second place out of five. 101 score. better than my college average. Hurrah for me:) Anywho..it was just really cool hanging out again. My hubby...bless his heart...goes nowhere does nothing. It's nice to have people to do stuff with.

oh...and on a completely different topic...we got sugar fixed:) Only difference I've noticed is he doesn't cry quite as loud. Still cries...just not quite as a loud. That boy was like a trumpet, you could hear him clearly from the other side of the house.

Nothing much to share...maybe more later.

pooie

2006-01-27T10:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not feeling my most happy today which I must say is the perfect time to update my blog.

First pooie is that I have been demoted. I'm no longer the photo manager's assistant. I am a lowly photographer getting lowly photographer pay. Also means I get less hours and I have to suffer the ego of the new assistant, one the most arrogant men I've ever met who's been an employee for only a year, when I'm working on my third. The reason is because I mess up...a lot. I'm generally a forgetful person. I try hard. I try to remember everything, but there's so much. Often I would leave things at the school or forget to check the map before taking off to a new school. I would forget to set my alarm and show up 10 minutes late. All this aside I was generally a good assistant. I did everything else I was supposed to do and a lot of things I wasn't asked to do. I have to admit..It will probably be a relief to be free of the pressure and responsibility that comes with being an assistant. But I will definately miss the money. Not only was a getting paid an extra $1.65 an hour...I was also gaurenteed more hours than anyone else. So I'll get less pay and less hours now. (sigh) that's life I guess. My photo mang. says she's was pulling for me and if I work really hard to not mess up this season, she ask to reinstate me as assistant. I was really depressed at first, but I'm getting over it now.

next pooie....something is wrong with my cat. He keeps peeing. He has two favorite spots in the hallway and along the front wall in the kitchen. Bad as it sounds I hope it is a medical condition. Something he can be treated for as opposed to him just being difficult. He has an appointment today so we'll see how that goes.

Moving right along...I've decided to give weight loss another try. Boo. Eating right when you're married to a stick who can devour an entire bag of Doritos in one sitting is a pain in the rear. Not to mention I have not mastered the art of making tasty low fat meals. They taste like air. But I can make a mean batch of cheesy chicken enchiladas and frito chili pies are so easy to make... I've been working out a tape called turbo jam. hard as heck, but definately fun.

Have you ever had one of those nights where just can't sleep. I woke up at 12:30 this morning to use the bathroom and then just couldn't get back to sleep. I spent 2 hours in bed tossing and turning. Then finally got up and put in a movie. I made a sandwhich and threw in a second movie and I finally nodded off between 4:30 and 5:00. James thought I had gotten up early to go to work and was suprised to see me balled up on the couch with sugar the cat. I woke up at about 8:30 when he was leaving for work, but I still feel like I didn't get enough sleep. Thank God I didn't actually have to work today...I would have been so tired. Going on like 3 hours of sleep.

Ok...I'll throw in a non-pooie. I went to visit my mom in Dallas and on the way back stopped in Denton to hang out with Leena and Kris. They pretty much look the same, and I was only there for about an hour, but it was so good to see them. I don't live near anyone I went to school with ...(cept anna, but she won't call me back) and my best friend from high school moved a long time ago. Me and James are the only young people at my church and for some reason the company I work for only attracts bar-hoppers and partiers. Not really my scene. I so miss having people to hang out with. Maybe I should move to dallas just so I can have some friends again. I love my husband, but to tell ya the truth, he's a little a boring (shhh! don't tell him I told you;)

That's my update for now. Nothing much going on. oh Wait! my church. Oh it's awful. So we have a new pastor right? And I think he's great. We had the same pastor for almost 30 years and our congregation has been very slowly shrinking. In case I haven't mentioned it...me and james and his sister are the only only members between 20 and 45. Most of them being over 70. So we got this guy here telling him we needed leadership and we wanted change and growth. Now that he's here everyone's mad because he is changing things. Well duh! We've had 3 or 4 more people join in the 3 months he's been here including my dad. We had an annual church business meeting the other day and I couldn't go, but my dad said it got real ugly. He was all excited about the meetings and had come up with some ideas for the church he wanted to discuss, but every was so busy arguing...he didn't have a chance. It was kind of like a "complain abouthe pastor" fest. Now..our new pastor is 36 years old. We are the first church he has ever pastored and probably only the second church he's ever been a member. He's trying to adjust to us and this new town (he's from dallas) and at the same time change things like he was asked to and please his congregation. I think our members are being very unreasonable. They want him to conform to us and the older members that are used to being in charge, do not want him now to tell them what to do. They are so angry that their positions are being threatened that's all they can see. They don't see what he's trying to do for us, and they don't see that...for crying out loud it's only been 3 months. We all to make adjustments.

One lady got so mad and yelled at him because he made a commitment for some day we apparantly go to this other church every year. She accussed him of trying to cut ties with the churches we used to socialize with. She got so angry. But he said that it was not intentional. He had not recieved a call or invitation from this church and knew nothing of the "tradition" We did not even tell him. How do we expect him to know things if we don't tell him.

It's an awful situation, and I have a feeling we will lose some members or they will do anything they can to remove him. My biggest beef is that they are forgetting why we are all here. They get so caught up in Church politics they don't praise they Lord. They spend so much time grimacing and giving the pastor evil looks, they don't hear the sermon and this guy is an amazing speaker. Straight from the bible. Last Sunday his sermon was entitled "things in hell that ought to be in church." I know crazy right? he just wanted to get our attention. If you check out Luke 16:19-31, you'll see the story of a rich man who, while in hell, asks for mercy, prays, shows concern for his fellow man. I thought it was a good lesson. I'd really hate to lose him because of people who fight instead of communicate and or so worried about having someone else run the church when they are so used to doing it themselves.

Please pray for my church. There are a lot of unhappy people there and I'm really not sure what the future holds for us.

Some Christmas

2005-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness...it can't be. I'm actually updating my blog. gasp:) Sorry about the long delay,I've just been lazy and avoiding the internet altogether. My trip to california was fine. My uncle has a tendency to rub me the wrong way, but the short day with Jon, Shea and j-rimmy was bloody fantastic. I love those guys. I love you guys! and it was so great seeing you again. We have do it again sometime. Who knows...maybe I'll talk my hubby into coming with. Fat chance..but you never know.

Speaking of my hubby, that boy scared the crap out of me. Christmas day, we were at church and my pastor has this thing about men sitting in the front of the church, setting an example and whatnot, so james has taken to sitting in the front while I stay in the middle somewhere. Towards the end of services we all stood to sing the last song and all of the sudden I hear gasps and somebody says "Is that James Jr?!" "Oh my god, he's having a seizure." Instantly every on our side of church starts reaching their hands in his direction and start praying for him as two members who happen to be nurses rush to his side and start checking his pulse and breaking out with the blood pressure thing. my mom kept jabbing me in the side as I just stood there and stared at where I'm sure my husband was laying out, not knowing if he was even breathing. She gave me stern looks and kept saying "what's wrong with you! that your husband up there." I mean, what did she expect me to do. This has never happened before and I was just in a state of shock. Then I got scared.., I started to cry, and I just stood there. Turns out, he wasnt having a seizure he just passed out. He had been stricken with an ugly stomach bug and with all the standing and lack of breakfast or sufficient fluids, he just got weak and passed out. He came home and spent a day or two throwing up and and wearing out the toilet seat, and now he's much better. But he scared me so much. for those few moments, I just didn't know what to think. My mom and sister-in-law gave me crap for freezing, but what good would it had done me to rush by his side. I surely would have been pushed away by the nurses and for crying out loud he was 4 pews away. It never occurred to me to go to him when I knew I couldn't help him once I got there. I wonder what my mother or sister-in-law would have done in the same sitiuation.

Of course I clung to him for the next couple of days and needless to say I caught his sick. But I also threw in a little sore throat and head cold just for kicks. My symptoms started Tuesday. and here it is Saturday and I am still congested with a nasty cough. I'm quite sure I have no fluids left in me. I've hardly eaten anything, but I can't bring myself to eat because I can't taste food. Everything taste's like nothing. I ate half a corn dog for dinner last night because I just couldn't keep chewing what tasted like air. It's a very odd feeling. I have no energy, but hopefully it will return once I'm able to taste my food again.

My husband did manage to fix car door though. For several months I haven't been able to open the door from the inside. Always rolling down my window and sticking my hand out to open from the other side. After tons of nagging, he finally fixed it. Merry Christmas...to me.

Californ-y, here I come!

2005-11-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

It's official. I got the time off; I got my plan ticket. I'm going to California:) I'm really excited. We are leaving Thanksgiving morning for Orange County Airport which is only about a 15 minute drive from my Uncle's house. Oh wait...don't let me confuse you. When I say we, I mean me and my Dad. Hubby James is getting left at the house. And just so you don't think I'm a mean person deserting my husband. I asked him. He has no interest whatsoever in going to California; those were his exact words. I suppose I could have given up my trip and stay here with him. But naaaa. I'm not really that kind of wife:) Besides...last time when I was in LA for thanksgiving, I didn't spend it with my uncle, and he was really kind of heart-broken about it. No one in his family comes to see him really let alone for the holidays. But the main reason I'm going. I have to get out of here. I spend my life going up and down the highways and farm roads and dirt roads of Texas and Oklahoma and I really needed to get away from these states. I feel like I'm suffocating. I was quite the adventurer there for a little way. Since I started college I went out of state at least once a year. The last real vacation was my honeymoon in New Orleans. Which...I know was a little over a year ago, but it still feels too long. I am all about the annual vacation. I gotta get far away from home at least once a year or I'll go crazy. Especially with my high-stress, so "I don't get paid enough for this" job. I felt like my head was going to blow up, so when my dad said he was going to visit uncle for Thanksgiving, the idea went under immediate consideration.

Of course James is not happy. NOt because I'm leaving him...no..because I bought a plane ticket he thought I could not afford. Let's clear this up. I can afford a plane ticket. I'm not rich or anything, but after paying for the ticket, there will be no bill that goes unpaid, and no time we have to go without a meal, without having to tap into either one of our savings account. Not to mention we dont' really pay rent here at my dad's house. WE pay the house tax which is the equivalent to $100 a month for rent. And we both have jobs that pay well above minimum wage and we get overtime every week. He may be a money horder, but I've handled my own finances for over 7 years now without ever going under. I think I know if I can afford a plan ticket. Now the plane tickets I'm buying in January to San Diego and in April to Washington my be a problem, but I'm too young not to live a little:) right???:)

Moving right a long...the plan is to spend thanksgiving and the day after with my family, then maybe spend a day or two with shea and jonathan. Hurrah! I really can not wait. Plus...I have been craving some singapore noodles from a chinese restaurant in LA and jonathan has said he'll take me there. Maybe I'll get to take my dad up to the Hollywood sign. He's never been up there. And my dad is truly excited as well. He hasn't spent Thanksgiving with me since I started college. I'm very much a daddy's girl and it will really mean a lot to us both to take this trip together. Even without my husband, who I'm sure, one of these days, will regret sending me on trips without him.

trick cars

2005-10-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

So have you ever been floating around in a big parking lot, like walmart or something and you see a parking spot just a few spaces from the front. You head that direction, slowly turn the wheel and bam. Trick car. trick cars are those tiny little cars about half the size of your own that trick you into thinking there's a parking space available. They pull all the way to the line and sometimes even beyond it to lull you into a false sense of parking space security. Then you have to keep going up to the front effectively giving away another spot that was still pretty close to the car behind you. Or, if it's still there, you have to turn around go all the way down another aisle just to come back down the first one again. And then the car in front of you takes the spot you were going for, and the madness continues. If you or someone you know drives one of these toy cars I encourage you to go ahead and not pull in all the way. See where the normal size cars end and park yours accordingly. It's not nice to decieve, and all you do is add unnecessary stress to the other driver. And believe me....if you're trying to park at walmart, your under enough stress as it is.

Weird Blog Incident and Appointment that never was

2005-10-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

K, so I typed in the html for my blog in the html window and click on return. And what pops up? An entryJune 2005. what the heck, I know I just entered a blog a few days ago and it was there. My blog entries June-Oct. had mysteriously disappeared. I was very nervous there for a moment, frantic even thinking "oh my gosh, where are my entries? WHERE ARE MY ENTRIES!?" But then I went to the blogger website and signed on...and there they were. Phew! that was a close one. I wonder how that happen? How did I manage to dig up an old copy of my blog. Stored in my computer somewhere maybe ? anyway...Any computer ge...um...geniuses:) out there? Can tell me what's up that?

Next what is up with my doctor. So I needed to set up an appointment with my doctor in July so I called early June. "I'm Sorry, " says receptionist, "Your doctor is planning a vacation, the earliest I can get you in August 30." Oh for crying out loud. So I set the appointment for nearly 2 months in advance knowing full well that I would probably be busy that day but praying for a miracle. About 3 weeks before the appointment I realized that I wasn't going to be able to make it. However, I didn't get home until after 5 (closing time for them) every night for the entire 3 weeks. I couldn't call to cancel until Sept 2. So she said next available appt. Oct. 21. (sigh)...I'm thinking I'm never going to get to this doctor. So i put in a request-time-off form at my job and low and behold, my boss actually gave it to me, which never happens. (had to cancel anniversary trip on account of that) Then the doctor's office calls. My doctor will not be in on Friday Oct. 21, could I please come in the day before at 1:30. Uh no. I'm scheduled to go to an elementary school with 700 Pk-1st graders in a town an hour and a half away. I really don't think I can make it back on time, and there's no getting around going to work. Next availbility is Nov 7, two and a half weeks from now. (at least not another month) It looks promising...no jobs on that day at the moment. I'm just...amazed at the fact that it has to take me 5 months to finally get my stupid appt. And I'll only truly believe I'm going to have it when I walk through the door of the examination room.(sigh) What a pain. Have to wait 1-2 months for an appointment then they go and cancel on ya. Now what the heck am I going to do on Friday? I work so much, I'm not sure what to do when I'm not working. Anyone? Know any good off-on-Friday activities. You know the sad part is, I'll probably end up going to work anyway to catch up on some office stuff I haven't had time for. I trully never wanted to be a workaholic. Why does it feel so much like I am.

My school tax bill came in the other day. It's over $700, and I still have a hefty bill for city tax coming up later to tack onto that. In case anyone's wondering why It's seperate it's because I live in Wichita Falls, but there is an independent school district here called City View. Why they did not join the WFISD I'll never know, but the school issues a bill then the city issues one seperately. I shouldn't complain, because I don't have to pay rent or anything, but it will probably total $1200 by the end of it, and that just seems like an awful lot of money to shell out at one time. Anyway...let me get off my box. My hands hurt from typing while irritated. Poor computer keys...what did they do to deserve such punishment.

The baby bug

2005-10-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

that's right folks. I have officially been bitten. No..I'm not pregnant, but the baby bug got a hold of me and man I am itchin'. I know it's not the best time, and I truly have no idea where it came from. it's so not me. I've only been married for a year. It probably has something to do with the fact that 3 girls in my family are pregnant and most of the girls I work with are either preganant or have children they always talk about. Maybe that it's. I just don't know. Just suddenly have a little smelly crying pooping baby in my arms with my nose and James' eyes is just so appealing. Wait...take that back..james' nose is better. perhaps my checkbones...but anyway. is there any other young married going through the same thing? I mean we don't have much money, hubby doesn't even have a solid full-time job. Surviving on long-term temp work and the occasional day at his dad's tv repair shop. He's involved in an annoying legal situation, which I think is a waste of lots of people's time and money, but until it's cleared we're stranded here for who knows how long, and I so desperately want to get out of this town. The initial plan was to stay here for a year...move somewhere more accommedating, buy a house within six months and start birthing babies. We've been here for a year already and will be here for at least one more, probably more. (sigh). I want my baby!!!! Maybe it will pass. right when I'm content without my husband will want one. He won't even discuss it with me yet. If I bring it up it's just a flat out "NO" and that the end. sucks to be me. Who the heck thought of unattainable desires. grr...

The man eating machine

2005-09-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in so long. My job is killing me. I work so much that any time I have a break or get off at like 4 intead of 7 I can't even rest hardly. I have to spend that time doing stuff or running errands I didn't have time for before. I only sign on to the internet once a week. And even then not for long. I appreciate the extra overtime money..but I'm tired! this job ages you. My knees hurt so bad. One day I was literally on my feet for 11 hours straight taking pictures. I bet I lost 2 lbs just that day. I don't even have time to sleep and eat. I think the schedule will start to loosen up here in a little bit, but I don't know. My wonderful husband has done all the dishes and laundry for the past 3 weeks without one compliant. Thank God for him. I'd be recycling all my clothes and eating out out of cans:)
The main problem is they overbook me on senior portriats. You know I go into school and do senior portraits and ideally I am supposed to be finished before school is out. That hasn't been the case. I could probably handle about 12-15 seniors comfortably in one day with one camera. They've been sending to me to schools with 23-27 seniors and then saying..."oh yeah...and they can add extra outfits." I've been working my tail off going as fast as I can (and still be able to take decent pictures) and I've ended keeping seniors up to 4 hours after school is out. It's ridiculous. The people in the office know better than that and I don't know why they don't send 2 cameras instead of just one. I'd like to make them all come to work with me for the day and see how it feels. "just work faster cherese" Well I'm just sorry I can't give you anymore than my best. It's driving me crazy. I can't wait for road seniors to be over...just a little while longer....

Two more things under my loose belt.

2005-09-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

My first anniversary was yestereday! Yahoo...I have been married for one full glorious year. Unfortunately, the day itself was rather uneventful. We woke up...ate breakfast at Denny's (hehe), drove to my mom's, watched tv...went to the store, watched more tv and then went to sleep. woohoo. Saturday we did go to medieval times. I redemmed rewards from my credit card to get a $100 cheque for Marriot hotel, so I just picked one that was close to medieval times. The map said .2 miles so i figured it would be pretty easy to find. As we pulled into the parking lot to unload my husband said.."What's that?" I followed his gaze over the fence we parked by. "Why sweetie, that's Medieval Times." How funny is that? The hotel we stayed at actually shared a fence with Medieval Times. And not even a full fence...about 30 feet down the fence stopped and me and James just walked right over. I had even copied down directions from the hotel to the M. Times...

It was a good show. The fight scenes were a little...unrealistic. Like a guy flying off his horse 5 seconds after he was hit...or if the sword was like 2 feet away. And our "serving wench" forgot our table and we were the last to get our chicken. Those two factors kind of drug down the whole experience. But it was still ok. Something different I suppose.

Along with a year of marriage under my belt I also have completed my Power 90, 90 day excercise program. Yahoo! And for the grand total of weight loss...drumroll please...21.6 lbs, which was exactly my goal. And 13.5 inches off my waist, hips, chest, thighs and arms. Not bad eh..eh??!?! The said part about it? I cheated the whole way through. I was never committed to my diet like I should have been so I can only imagine how much weight I would have lost if I had a little more will power. But oh well...I can only do what i can do. I'm starting a new program today...which I probably will not attack with same intensity. So I won't lose weight fast at all. But I won't gain and hopefully i can still pull off about a pound a week.

So that's all for now, check you kids later.

Working sucks!

2005-08-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

I'm just about fed up with my job. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do...I hate my job. first off, my trip to San Antonio is cancelled. Due largely to the fact that my boss would not give me one day off. I bend over backwards for these people, I make my self completely flexible and build my world around their schedule. The last time I asked for time off was for my honeymoon. I think one day for my anniversary is reasonable. OK. So she doesn't give it to me. so I ask for a shorter day so I can at least leave on Friday instead of having to wait until Saturday morning. She said no because the school I'm going to is huge and she needs my help and experience. Then she got kinda rude about me having the nerve to ask to not work that day. Grr. It just frustrates me. I told her I wanted a day off like 2 months ago and it sucks that I have the kind of job where they just downright can't give it to you. I want a job where the scheduling is not so tight they have no one to spare.

So I was so pissed off for having this trip ruined. That I had been planning for three months. I cried, I almost wanted to just quit my job. Then I remembered. It's hot here. It's hotter in San Antonio. I checked the forecast...high temp was supposed to be between 99-101 degrees this weekend. Do I really want to cruise the riverwalk all day in that heat?? naaa. Not to mention gas prices are sky high. And it's 6 and a half hours to San Antonio. I could still go, but I don't think 2 days there is worth the time and gas money. So i calmed down and decided to go to Medieval Times in Dallas instead. It's closer. It's indoors. And I can hang out with my mom the next day. And for an anniversary present, my stepfather agreed to fire up the grill for us, and let me tell ya...the man can grill:) So I think it will be a pretty decent weekend just the same. My husband has never been to Medieval Times so at least that's something different. And if anyone doesn't know what that is, tell me. I would be more than happy to explain. Or just go to the website.

So..I'm feeling alright, finally about not getting my day off. Then I get my expense sheet back from my boss which has my mileage that he's going to reimburse me for on it. Ok..so back story. I went to a school one day, in bray. About an hour and 35 minute drive from here. We get there and discover we've left the power boxes behind. We plug our lights into it and it was impossible to do without. So we called a guy and told him to meet us halfway. I volunteer to meet him. I drive for over an hour before I finally see him, and grab the stuff and drive the 60 miles or whatever back to the school. I know better than to count the miles for going back on my mileage sheet. So I just put 172 miles, which is one trip there and back. 4 days later, the boss passes out this addendum to our handbook saying that if something is left behind and he has to pay someone mileage to bring it to you, you cannot claim the mileage for that school since he has to pay it to someone else. Understandable. But he didn't make this change until after my job. So I get my expense sheet back and he's marked it off and deducted it from my total. Now...there were two people who drove on this trip and I'm wondering if he really subtracted 2x172 miles on our sheets because he had to pay 70 miles to someone else. If he did, totally unfair. Second, I actually don't think he subtracted the mileage from the other guy's sheet just mine, which is even more unfair, because not only am I out 172 miles, I'm out the extra 100 miles for having to go 2/3 of the way and back. If I had known he wasn't going to pay me anything I would have made the other guy go back since it was his fault we left the stuff anyway. or better yet, just let the guy come all the way to me instead of meeting him. Granted, I was the team leader and I was supposed to double check, but I asked one of the photographers, while he was staring at the shelf where the powerboxes were sitting, if we missed anything and he said no. Why wouldn't I take his word, if he's standing there looking at it? And what really burns me is that my boss is probably sitting around thinking very ill of me for trying to put one over on him and for being so incompetant and forgetting things. when I work so hard for him with absolutely zero positive feedback. I don't deserve that crap. I shouldn't have to live up to perfect. or have 5 mistakes out of 150 good days ruin my reputation as a good employee. i know I forget things. It happens ya know? when you do 100 different things for job and everyday you're taking a completely different set of equipment, it's hard to keep track....

Sorry.

I'm just really tired. It's an awful lot of pressure and I'm having a hard time dealing with it at the moment. I like my job...I just don't want to work for my boss anymore.

Bunch of stuff

2005-08-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

First off...I did my solo. I was so incredibly nervous I think you could hear my heartbeating in my voice. I kept my head down staring at the book the entire time. my voice was so weak, and I cracked and hit wrong notes. But everyone was soooo supportive. They went on about how good I did and how pretty my voice was, but I can always rely on my father to tell me the truth. "Honey...it sounded good...but.." Apparantly I was a little too quiet, and I explained to him that it was because I was very uncomfortable with the song and had only practiced it twice. I was quiet because if I hit a wrong note it wouldn't be a LOUD wrong note. My dad put it on his computer and if I ever figure out how to upload it, I might try to let some of you see it. We'll see how that works. Moving right along...

I think I refered to something that had been bothering me..here it is.

there's this guy that works with me. He's the type of guy that if we finish working at 6:10 he suggest we sign out at 6:30. so his box was like right below mine and I glanced in it..we have expense sheets were we keep track of job mileage so we can get reimbursed and I noticed a few problems with his. point A. He had minerals wells listed on his first line. First of all...he did not drive to mineral wells.
Second..he had 400 miles listed when it's like a 190 mile trip. Then he marked another place we went to as 425 miles when it took 325. So this was like a week ago and apparantly I decided not to tell anyone for a couple of reasons. First I'm not sure if he actually turned it or had a sudden case of conscience. Second, if he did turn it in, I'm not sure my boss didn't already catch it, he's usually pretty good at catching an extra 200 miles on an expense sheet. And if they've set him down already and had a talk to him about it, a week later is not a good time to stick my noise in and volunteer late information that has nothing to do with me. So...I'm planning on just keeping an eye on him. See if he pulls it again. Second time, I'm going to mention something to my photo manager.

In other news. Does anyone have that problem to where they buy pants and it fits perfectly in the legs, but is for some reason baggie around the middle and waist, resulting in that stupid line that comes across your crotch when the waist slides down but the legs stay put. Drives me nuts. and I just bought these pants! In actuallity I probably should have bought a size smaller (which just tickles me to think about it) But these are already a size smaller than I used to wear (which tickles me even more). But I'm still ticked because I really like these pants and they feel too loose, and it's too late to take it back because I've been wearing them all day. Darn it! I wonder if I could just get them altered.

I think that's all for now. By the way...did I mention I worked a whopping 70 hours last week. That's like...two weeks worth of work in one week. It was very hard for me, but I think this week promises to go a little easier. later!

dance fever!

2005-08-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I've never been one of those people who like the reality caller-vote shows which basically have the "So you wanna be a star?" theme...like American Idol, The apprentice, the one show that missy elliot did. Which, sometimes I feel like the only person who doesn't really like american idol. but this new show...So You Think You Can Dance? Love it. No don't get me wrong. I love singing...actually singing a solo this sunday...(oh my gosh...this sunday!). I sing in the car, I sing while cleaning house, and I have total respect for good singers. But screw them, I already know how to do that...But the dancers! I mean, they let actual professionals on this show. People who have dance studios, where they teach other people how to dance as well as people who just study it and like it. They do stuff on that show... Most people don't realize that I'm a closet dance fanatic. I love it. I used to want to be a dancer. I'd rather be good at dance than good at photography (gasp!) but unfortunately I'm a [broad-shouldered] woman and [broad-shouldered] women have a hard time dancing and making it look good. If I can manage to lose enough wieght and maybe even get a [shoulder] reduction, perhaps I will make a go at it. screw that...as soon as I move to a city that offers them I am so taking dance lessons with my husband.

Now..dance lessons...those were one of those things that well, I like to call a wooing promise, a bargaining chip, if you will. See...when a guy is dating a girl and is partaking in the act of wooing he may make a promise. Guy does not want to lose girl, so promises anything she desires. Then he marries her, figures her to be trapped and suddenly, promise is forgotten. Girl hears, "What? I didn't say that,' or "You must have misunderstood me." I distinctly remember asking James, while we were dating if he would take dance lessons with me, although admittedly reluctant he did agree. But now that we are married and I bring it up he's all "I don't think so." What a rip! Dang it...I know i should have outlined that in the pre-nup. :) But I think perhaps..I still have room to talk him into it.

On the other hand. That 90 day program I started...got 17 days left. Yahoo! I will tell you this much..I have lost weight..but you're going to have to way till day 90 to find out how much. also...there's an issue I'm having at work I'd like to discuss, but unfortunately I have to get up in 6 hours to go to work, so It's going to have to wait until tomorrow:)

no time

2005-08-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since I have written in this thing, but I'm low on time. I've been working long hard hours the past few weeks and I've been pooped. I've been on the road doing senior portraits at various little podunk towns in Texas. Fortunately the overnight part is pretty much over. Now we just have the ones where we go down that morning, come back that night. Which still sucks a little, because that makes for one long day.

It's also been a while because, as I'm sure I mentioned, I'm a part of this excercise program that has a support club online. I have what they call a thread on the message board. I started it and treat it basically like a workout blog and people can come by and leave little messages on it for me. Encouraging me and things like that. I write everything on it, so my actually blog get's no attention. I just leave it over here all dusty and stuff. Soon, no one will come by and read it because they'll assume I've forgotten all about it.

My first anniversary is coming up soon:) Less than a month. I'm excited. We are supposed to be going to San Antonio for an extended weekend, but my husband is not really acting like he's planning on it. He keeps saying we'll see. But hello. I booked the room already. I keep telling him that if we don't show up, they'll charge us for the room anyway, so we'd better go. We'll see what happens. If anyone has some cool stuff to do in San Antonio, let me know. We have no plans at the moment. More later, have to get ready for work now.

good fortune

2005-07-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Short little story. My and my husband went to a chinese restuarant the other day. Food was disappointing, but moving on. We of course get the complimentary fortune cookies with the bill. My husband picks up one and tosses the other one to me. He opens his reads it..blah, blah, blah. Then I open mine and it says...exactly "You look pretty". That's it. I cracked up, I have never had a fortune cookie pay me such an innocent physical compliment. I would have been rolling around on the floor if my husband had picked up that cookie first. How's that for making a man feel like a man. I shall keep it always and whenever I'm feeling down I will pull it out of my tiny purse and read it and smile. Not the one about my wisdom or that I will go far in life..I chose to keep the fortune that states "You look pretty". That's an american woman for ya;)

May your heiness have a glorious reign...

2005-07-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Yup...that's right. I am the queen of the dorks. You better believe I was at the midnight release party for the sixth installment of Harry Potter novel's. The Half-Blood Prince. And yes...I recieved it less than 24 hours ago and it has been completed. I woke up this morning at 8:15, grabbed a bran muffin and sat to bury myself in Harry Potter for let's see the next...9 hours it looks like? stopping only to heat a frozen pizza and go potter...I mean potty:) The cool thing about reading a brand new book all in one sitting is there is no painful waiting. You get it all right then. You that you will know all there is to this book before the day is out...heck before dinner. But you've glided through the book so quickly there is no glorious suspense. The not being able to wait until you can still away a couple of moments to read that next chapter. Realizing that at 2:30 in the morning you can no longer comprehend what's written on the page and having to force yourself to stop at a "good part". All the suspense is gone. I will never know that. Because when the seventh book comes out...I will do the same thing. But the really suck part is that no one else you know will have partaken of this ritual. I can not talk to anyone about the book. If I tell someone who loves harry potter they will be highly pissed at me for ruining their personal experience of drinkin in themselves, and I if tell someone who does give a flip about harry potter it will most definately not create the desiring impact. Please...for the love..someone read the book and call me. Let's discuss...there's gotta be a chat room some where....aaaagggggggghhhhhh!. it burns...

Say what you will about harry potter...but the books are addictive. It is no longer about the quality of the stories...relishing the creativity of the author and her effect on the reader's mind. Screw that! I wanna know what happens! Who dies, who lives...who loses, who wins..who gets the girl..and exactly what girl are we talking about her. The effect it has on people is comparable to a soap opera. Um..just the effect. let's not get into the quality of soap operas.

But I've squandered away my day. I've hardly eaten anything today, haven't showered or changed clothes...skipped my workout. I messed up my diet. I even ate part of a chocolate bar they gave away with purchase of book. And ya know what...screw it, i'm eating hamburger helper for dinner tonight and I don't care..it's harry potter day!

wedding photo

2005-07-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

alright...so this picture is probably of poor quality, but for those who have not seen my husband, here he is. Notice how I'm grinning like an idiot. Story of my life Believe it or not..he's actually skinnier in person...God love him. Hey...what's up with big girls and skinny guys anyway?:) Seriosly...he's like 135 lbs. What I wouldn't give for his abs...

Wonder wedding

2005-07-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

After reading BCS's blog...it got me thinking about my own wedding. He spouts off about crap gifts from rich people. And I thought I should represent the other side. A grateful bride who got more gifts than expected. My wedding was kind of low budget. At my own church. My dress was on sale for like $200...I don't know...is it proper etiquitte for a lady to reveal the price of her wedding dress? Whatever. Had 4 bridesmaids, 3 groomsmen. My sister-in-law acted both as bridesmaid and caterer, which I must say she did an excellent job at that. She gave me the most amazing gift...her time, her support, culinary skills free of charge. Not to mention she actually convinced my brother, her husband, to pay for part of my food. I did all decorations by myself. Bought everything in bulk..(by the way does anyone need about 120 little silver bells or 25 plastic swans?) decorated an arch and reception site with the help of my wonderful bridesmaids. Got the cheapest tux available...bought my flowergirl's dress off of ebay. I pinched as much as I could. We only sent out about 60 invitations, but as expected many members of our church made an appearance as well. They had seen us grow up in that church..well.. actually ignoring each other. But they were responsible for the bulk of our gifts. Few stuck to the registery but the only truly bothersome gifts were the gift cards from JC Penney's and Target. Listen to me people. I registered...at Dillards..and Wal-mart. I never ever shop at JC Penney's and Target. I had to go there and spend like an hour looking for something I wanted just so the card could get used. I probably should have just passed them on to another just-married couple. We only had two copies of presents, silverware and a waffle iron. But we took the waffle iron back to target, and the silverware back to walmart and use the corresponding refund gift cards to buy grocieres. Everything else was either from the registry or actually something we needed that we didn't think of. They cluttered the floor and bed of one of our rooms so I used the Target gift card to by storage shelves to keep the gifts on. We call it the wedding wall. We currently live at my father's house. The house I grew up in (dad's has another house he lives in) and don't really need our gifts yet. Some haven't been taken out of the box. This house still has all the plates, glasses, pots, pans, and whatnot for us to use until we move. But only one of my bridesmaids bought a gift, and only one groomsmen. but since I have been in two weddings where I have not given a gift, I have no reason to complain, and quite frankly didn't really expect a gift. Seriously...my bridesmaids were outstanding and I could not have asked for a better group of support. Oddly enough they were all from different part of my life and didn't even really know each other. Oh but they were great. Ladies if you are reading this I can not express my gratitude enough for being so great to me the days before and of my wedding. there were not many of you, but you were amazing. You really made the whole thing less stressful and beautiful:) Oh yea...and my husband was alright too...

Do you wanna make more money? Sure..we all do..

2005-07-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Things at my job are so slow.
I'm only averaging 20-25 hours a week. It will be better in a couple of weeks when they send me on the road. But I'm so tired of not working. It's making me lazy. And it stinks because they need you to be completely flexible, meaning few can get other p-time jobs. Especially me, because I am the primary member of the road crew. I spent 3-5 days a week for the past three weeks in Oklahoma. and in two weeks, I go out for 3 solid weeks in a row. I like it much better in December. No one works and I could collect from unemployment for 3 or 4 weeks. But during senior season, you may work 40 hours one week and 6 the next. The only way to get unemployment is through temporary layoff (december) or if you work partime or are unemployed and looking for work. And it's not like I want another job or to look for work....I just want my job to use me more. (sigh) Thank God my husband has a good-paying job right now. He's working a lot of overtime, but it helps to offset my lack of hours. Hopefully when my hours pick up, his will slow down. He's passed out on the floor as I'm typing this. So tired. He works 5-5. Anyway. Other than the usual excercise program, not much is going on new with me.

I just recieved word by one of my co-workers that he and another guy will be accompanying me on the road. I really hope neither one finds this blog, but one is Scott, the other is Chris. first of all, I think it's silly to send two guys and a girl because our company has a rule that only a girl can be a photo assistant(helping seniors get dressed in yearbook tux/drape/feathers) simply because a male employee can not help a girl get dressed. So that means I will rarely get to photograph. Also a male photog can not be alone with a girl senior. A Female photog has to be present at all times. Which means not only can I not photograph, I have to babysit the guys who do. That being aside. I do not want to spend three solid weeks with just Chris and Scott. They are nice guys, but there are some people you can only tolerate if you don't have to spend that much time with them. Chris and Scott are those people. I don't want to bad talk to them, but they do have the ability to get on my nerves...which I am quite sure, I do to others. Not trying to be on a high horse...I know some people don't like having me around and that's ok. I can live with that. So, I'm going to talk to my boss tomorrow and see if I can convince her to alternate the guys. Send one with me one week, and the other another week, then they can both go with me the week we need four people, and she'll be sending another girl anyway. I don't know...I mean does anyone see my case? I have never asked her to accept my preferences, I usually just accept who she gives me and go on. But...I reeeeally don't think I could handle the two of them together. (sigh)

On a complete different note, I don't remember if I mentioned this or not, but my pastor died a few weeks ago, about a month from his 29th anniversary at our church. It was very sad, but he's going home, so it's all good. Just keep my church in pray as we search and prepare ourselves for another pastor.

First ,the weather, then the news

2005-06-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

I know..it's been a while. My life has now been taken over by my diet and excercise program. It's all I do. It's like a tornado, just sucks me in. See, they have a website that allows you to log on when you start a workout so that people all over the country can "work out with you" Then, there's the cooldown chatroom where myself and a bunch of other sore overweight people first, grumble about the pain, then pat ourselves on the back for sticking with it and doing such a great job. Then it's off to the support club website were I spend 3 hours trying to create the perfect balanced meal plan of 1800 calories a day. Then the message boards to find answers to any questions I might have concerning certain excercises or which cereal is the healthiest. That was my life for about a week. Then I got really stressed and ate anything I could get my hands on, so happy not to have the frustration of never getting that perfect meal plan I can enjoy. I still sign in at the start of my workout. I still go to the message boards for encouragement. But now I just eat better. Stress-free eating. I've been on this 90 day program for 24 days. I haven't missed one workout (6 days a week). And I'm starting to feel a lot stronger. Can definately do things now that I couldn't do in the beginning. there's finally a calm in my storm. I'm settling into what works for me.

And now for the news. So, I'm sure you've heard mention of my adorable cat sugar. I've talked about her before. so I finally took her to the vet today to have her shots, probably a couple of months later than I should have, but at least I did it. She has a terrible flea infestation too, so I was hoping we could do something about that. When we go in to the see the vet, she starts asking me questions about sugar. Does it seem like she has a worm?, Is she in heat yet?, am I considering getting her spade. Then as she's talking to the cat and giving it a once over, she says "Well no wonder it's not in heat...it's a boy!" Oh....my....gosh. I've had my cat for almost 4 months. and I did not know it was a boy. I did not notice the testes. Quite frankly I had never really examined a male cat up close, and I thought sugar's was just a patch of brown fur. I felt...like such an idiot. She was like.."I really can't believe you didn't notice" Cuz I'm dumb! Forgive me, I just didn't realize that cat testes were so...well small. I"ve only seen big dog testes and sugar's ain't nothing like that. So..I come home, I tell me husband, and he says he already knew that. Why in the world, did he not tell me? He couldn't have saved me the humiliation of going to a trained pet professional and proudly proclaiming I didn't know the difference between boys and girls. Grrr... He said, it just didn't occur to him to tell me, we were so used to calling it she. Does that make since to any of you? Fellas...seriously if you discovered that your female family pet was actually a male...would you not mention? not even in passing maybe??

We decided to continue to call him sugar. I'm still trying to get used to calling it he. (sigh). And that was our news for the day, thank you for tuning in.

And since Nicole has been dying to see a picture of Sugar...here HE is. He's just kinda got that one arm up on james sleeping on the floor. See how he's chilling. real cool like..."Whassup?" I can actual visualize the head nod.

solo me, mi solo

2005-06-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am lonely. It's so boring being in this house, alone, everyday. Still not working. My husband works all day. 70 hours last week. Not just office work, physically taxing hard labor. He puts together, by hand huge conveyors the size of a whole room and he works so hard, he comes home exhausted. Barely talks to me...just falls into the couch and kind of goes to sleep. If I cook, he'll get up and eat a little, then passes back out. Personally I think he should sleep more at night (he has to get up at 4 am 6 days a week) and eat better (skips breakfast, candy bar for lunch), and maybe even start taking daily multivitamins. I just wish he wasn't always so tired. I miss him. Making pretty good money, but I still rather him not work so much. I feel alone whether he's here or not. I guess this is proof that I would probably not make a good housewife. I just don't know what to do with myself when I'm not working. Next week, it will start back up. Our senior studios open next Monday. I'll probably be leaving on Tuesday for Altus (an hour and a half drive from here). We have a senior studio there and I will probably stay all next week, and come home for the weekend. More than likely repeating that for the following 3 weeks. A week or two breaks, then I'm off to do senior pictures on the road, stopping at various towns but still gone for a almost a week at a time. (sigh) It will be good money, but if I think i miss him now, I can only imagine what it will be like then. and most of these places have suck cell phone reception, so I won't even be able to call him for the most part. (sigh). ah well. That's life, right?

moooving right along. I have been asked by the choir director of my church to sing a solo at our annual musical in August.(gulp) I'm so nervous. I used to sing in my choir when I was younger, not since I was sixteen, and was perfectly content to not sing there again (except when the whole congregation sings) But every so often, well first i should probably explain that at my church we have sunday school and BTU (Baptist Training Union) before church starts every Sunday. after a 30 minute BTU within our respective classes, the entire congregation comes together to give an overall of the lesson and to have an activity, like a bible drill or quiz. A few months ago they thought it would be nice if everyone sang one verse of a church song they liked. No one had heard me sing in years, and had forgotten that I even could. ever since, everyone and their mom has been trying to get me to join the choir. No offense...but the average age of the members of our choir is about 58. more than twice my age. I know it sounds crazy, but I really just don't think I would feel comfortable there. In case you haven't caught on, my church is very small and to be perfectly honest, my husband, his sister and I, are the only active members between 20 and 40. At any rate, I won't join the choir, but it seems the director is determined to hear me sing anyway. I've never done a solo. Ever. I'm so nervous. I even have to pick out my own song. I have no idea where to even look. I'm feeling all sweaty just thinking about it. I won't be singing in front of a lot of people...but still. I am the featured guest soloist of the Annual Musical (scream!!) pressure....

oh, and a somewhat related story, my paster has been absent from our church for several months now. He got sick and was moved to Fort Worth. Most of his children live in that area. He went from hospital to hospice to rest home, but he's not doing well at all. His pastor anniversary is coming up soon and most are sure it will be his last. His children came to us a couple of weeks ago and asked to go ahead and motion for his retirement and begin looking for a new pastor. He will have been pastor of the church for 29 years. I think he was only the second pastor there since the church started. It's all very sad. His wife passed away a couple of years ago. Please pray for his strength and that of his family and church family. Pray for our new pastor whoever who will be. Pastor Williams has been my pastor since I started going to church, and I actually think that me and my husband are the last two people who married, and my husband, the last person he baptized. Just keep our church in your prayers. It's upsetting to think that he will be leaving us, but I'm sure he's happy to be going home.

a place to call home

2005-06-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to go to findyourspot.com and find out the top cities I should live in like jeremy. They are hilarious... Never would dream of living in some of these places. I'm pretty suprised my on hometwon didn't show up. You guys should get a kick from that list.

Abilene, Texas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Clarksville, Tennessee
Hickory, North Carolina
Hampton, Virginia
Amarillo, Texas
Enid, Oklahoma(my best friend lives here
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Greenville, South Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Jackson, Mississippi
Greenville, North Carolina
Rocky Mount-Stony Creek, North Carolina
Lubbock, Texas
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Lynchburg, Virginia
Springfield, Missouri
Augusta, Georgia
Joplin, Missouri
El Paso, Texas
Norfolk, Virginia
Athens, Georgia
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

guessing I was just meant to live in the south. anybody have any favorites from the list?...please not the first one.

death by diet

2005-06-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

ok..for everyone who cares not about the weight-loss roller coaster and the insecurities of a typical female..by all means, by-pass this entry. Check back next week, perhaps i will have moved on.

Now for you brave men, understanding women and...well husbands who are used to complaints about our bodies, I have gone on a diet. first of all, there is something I don't understand. I've been...let's say..beyond average since I was in 7th grade. I didn't care then. All through high school and college I was genuinely content being a fat happy woman. I was not, as my mom predicted, boy crazy and did not attempt to starve myself to lose weight to catch men. I didn't care. The women in my family were brought up to believe that they were beautiful no matter was physical shape they were in. That was how I saw myself and that's how I saw other people. But why is it, that every other woman in the world supposedly maintains girlish figure to attract the opposite sex but once marriage is acheived, man sufficiantly caught, and family is started, proceeds to let themselves go, when I am quite the opposite. I eat up to my little hearts content before I am attached, all through my engagement even, but now that I am married, it's like suddenly I realize I'm overweight. A veil has been lifted, a fog removed from my mirror. Now I am concerned. Not I want to be smaller and have a beach body and cut abs....

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. can't even keep a straight face thinking about me with a six-pack. Never mind. hehe....hehehe..

ahem. anyway. so since I've been married I've tried all these diets for all of two days, and the 6 months of daily excercise I've committed myself to dwindled down to 30 minutes that one day. I spent $160 dollars on a diet and exercise plan. After I failed of course I sent it back for refund minus shipping, but who does that??

Bad habits are so hard to break. I told my husband once that...my eating habits are like an addiction. I seriously believe people can become addicted to certain types of food that are bad for them. Eating right for me would be like a smoker quitting cold turkey. It's agony trying to reverse bad habits. Sometimes I want to cry when I think about how weak my will power is. If I'm craving a brownie...well it's a brownie I'm getting. and I sure could go for some french fries.. But seriously...one diet said I had to eatskinless boneless chicken breast 5 meals a day and had to swear off salt and butter. can you imagine five helpings of meat with no salt. it doesn't sound bad now...but you try a completely salt free diet and see how long you last.

You know, now that I think about it, my desire probably comes from the fact that my husband is so skinny. 5'11. 135lbs. I think his waist is smaller than my leg. ew. Nothing's creepier than a woman wishing she had her husband's body. bleahh.

Anyway, I have, yet again, purchased some new gimmick exercise program. fortunately only 20 bucks this time...but we will see if it works. Who knows. Maybe I'll go back to looking like my 6th grade self again. Wish me luck. better yet..pray for me

by the way. My friend nicole says hi. Have you ever notice her bright glowing blue eyes. check out her blog. she's a princess. well..not really. But she has great imagination:)

Have I mentioned that I'm lazy?

2005-06-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

you know...not working is really starting to bug me. I mean, really, it's nice to have the time off. But I'm bored and my laziness is really starting to set in. You know what I've done today since I woke up 6 hours ago. I ate a frozen waffle and finished up Harry potter and the order of the phoenix (for the second time). Then I stared at my cat for half and hour...wow. That's not nearly as interesting as I thought when I first started to write.

So I put new batteries in my flash. It charges up in all of two seconds now as opposed to the 15 seconds it took last weekend. But it's over now. Moving on. Besides, I didn't realize my flash could charge that fast with a fresh set of batteries. It's kind of cool. Of course I now realize how quickly that flash burns through a set of batteries. I bought a twenty pack to be kept restocked in my camera bag at all times.

I'm very excited about senior season starting back up. That is when we start taking senior portraits. It's always nerve-wrecking dealing with seniors and their parents. You get the kids who don't give a crap and won't smile or do what you tell them with the evil parents who threaten to have you fired when they see their child's expression-less, forced photographs. It's never the child's fault. Always the photographer. We were taught that in training. And you also get the girl so obsessed she constantly changes her hair and practices her smile while her mom rearranges the shirt collar umpteen times making a 45 minute session into a 3 hour one. But those are the extremes. Usually you get pretty normal kids who are nervous about playing model for an hour, so they just do as their told. I have a couple of new ideas in my head I want to try this summer. Anyone going to be in the area? Come model for me for a couple of days? but eh...dont' expect to be paid, I've been working like 10 hours a week avg. That's another reason I'm excited for the season to start. We are just so glad that God has blessed my husband with a good paying temp job, so we can keep paying our bills although I'm not working much.

Well I suppose I could get off my butt now. You know. I think I'll run to the store real quick, pick up some supplies...and paint the kitchen:) That oughtta be fun:)

Sugar the cat??? and my bad day.

2005-05-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

It is quite unbelievable how much my cat has grown in the past couple of months. She is the same size now as my last cat ever was. I wonder if she'll get bigger. What happened to my cute little kitten whose claws did not know the meaning of the word "retractable" She now looks like a cat. She still attacks randomly with no warning mostly inanimate objects...but now she will lie calmly in my lap and let me pet her. and she's beautiful not just cute.

now...on to my bad day, which unfortunately probably won't mean much to non-photographers, but it's not like my blog is a high-traffic area, and..it is mine, so I don't care. First...I borrowed my father's video camera for my job and then agreed to bring it to my cousin's graduation so he can video-tape it. I get it there..and the battery has mysteriously disappeared. ya know...the expensive, hard to find battery. I searched my office and still can't find it. Way to go Cherese. So than I have to go to Quanah, tx to photograph their graduation. We pack everything and when we get there (1 hour 20 minutes away) I discover there is no sync cord to link my light to my camera. Now...every bag that holds the light we use has a sync already connected plus one to two extras. This had nothing. I couldn't believe it. One could argue it's my fault because I didn't double check my bag...But as I mentioned before...every bag has 2 to 3 syncs, and if someone purposely removes them, it is their responsibility to remove the bag from the equipment room or post a note. So...graduation's supposed to start in 45 minutes, no time for some one to bring me one, so I volunteer my 35mm which just happens to be in my car. I have to run to United to get film, and rush back. Now...of course everyone there has 35mm with the big fancy flash so I'm feeling very unprofessional. so I stand up to start photographing the graduates as they go by. Now usually I have a pretty quick-charging flash. Not today. In fact, even though the announcer was going very slow, the flash only went off on a little over half of them. I'm devastated because that was a sad, sad representation of my company. And to top it all off...the graduation didn't start until a half an hour later than I thought, meaning someone probably could have made it to us on time. And I didn't occur to me until later that people don't actually walk until an hour after graduation starts. I could have just set up my light and metered and someone would have had plenty of time to bring me a sync before the graduates walked.

It was just a very depressing day. I always feel like such crap when stuff doesn't work out and I just feel like I did a really bad job. I like to do good work ya know? I just feel...like a big steaming pile of poo when my work goes wrong. Like when I photographer a wedding and my flash malfunctioned leaving 2/3 of a roll pitch black...and that roll just happened to be the one with the the bride and her mom...her and her dad...ya know..important posed pics at the alter. Fortunately I did get other photos of her and her parents...and every picture of the couple. But I totally felt like a jerk. I mean..you can't get those moments back.

Anyway..to end on a pleasant note. Sugar is lying next to me asleep. She totally sprawls out...legs wide open, like half on a her back and half on her side. It's hilarious. She does so many funny things. She's like the slowest cat in history. She can never catch anything which is why she only attacks still things. Like my foot...a table leg..the wall:) We have a glass coffe table, and she always walks under it and tries to attack things sitting on top of the table through the glass. And the other day I was taking a shower with the bathroom door cracked, ya know to let out some of the steam. Next thing I know she peering over the edge of the tub trying to attack the stream of water. Then she jumped in. Oddly enough...didn't stay for long. Don't know why, thought cats liked water:)

Get and up do something, for crying out loud!

2005-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those inexplicable lazy days. I just can't get in the mood to do anything. I only have to work two days this week, wednesday and friday, so I says to me, I says.."Cherese, you can get a lot of work done around the house this week. Finally finish stripping the paint off of those kitchen cabinets (someone please help), clean up the front room, wash dishes, do laundry, paint the kitchen...etc." And do you know what? The only thing I've managed to do today was make breakfast (dirtying more dishes), and drag a cabinet door onto the front porch and stare at it blankly with sander in hand, before dropping it, coming inside and spending the next 2 1/2 hours playing snood on the computer. Today i'm worthless. But who knows...maybe I'll get the lead out after lunch...though I do have to run to the studio today. so after that...we;; there's dinner I have to make. Hm...I might not be able to fit it in my schedule...
I don't know, I'm just one of those people who actually have to be in the mood to clean. Otherwise all the time in the world don't amount to diddly. I have to be so bored that I will have to resort to cleaning up. I sure hope my husband didn't think he was getting a homemaker.

just politics

2005-05-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Your Political Profile

Overall: 35% Conservative, 65% Liberal

Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

The funny thing is , I don't really consider myself liberal. Or conservative. I've never taken a test like this before, but I probabably should mention, to be fair, that a couple of those questions I didn't have a clue what they were talking about so I guessed:) oops...that's probably why I'm not that into politics.

my name

2005-05-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

I got this from david's site...in case you saw his

C	Charming
H	Honorable
E	Earthy
R	Realistic
E	Elitist
S	Square
E	Exquisite

still a few months away.

2005-05-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ok. I'm trying to plan our 1st anniversary trip. I was a little disappointed in our honeymoon because we drove all the way to New Orleans and didn't really do anything but walk around looking for places to eat. No jazz club, we didn't even make it to French Market. Not because I didn't want to, but because my husband's an old stick in the mud when it comes to doing anything different. It's hard because nothing much interests him. He doesn't really feel like doing anything in particular; he enjoys no activity over another. He's kind of luke warm...but he likes cars right? So I'm planning our trip and I find an old car musuem not to far from where I wanna go, and very excited, I tell him about it, and he just shrugs his shoulders and says "eh". (sigh). I'm looking at him now, as I write this, ya know, for inspiration. He's currently passed out on the floor, legs all sprawled. It's actually funny. My poor tired baby. He worked hard today. Anyway. I know that my anniversary isn't for another 4 months, but with my job, it's best to give the most advanced notice possible for time off. Before they schedule schools. The current plan is to go to New Braunfels, TX, like on a friday. Saturday morning drive 30 miles or so to this car musuem. then come back and go to landa park for some hiking and paddleboats. Sunday, its off the to Guadalupe river for some rafting (if I can work up the nerve) if not, or if we have extra time, we'll go to San Antonio to finally take that boat at the riverwalk or watch a movie at the Imax...or just walk around and get our caricuture down. What do you think? too much planning. Does it sound like fun? Kind of simple I know, but just a chance to get away from this town. Plus we may move into that area, so it can give us a chance to look around a bit. I think I should persist, despite his lukewarmness. Who knows, maybe one of these days I will stop caring whether or not he has a good time. Like the other wives:) Sorry there's nothing funny in this entry. Just a little frustrated. needed a little break...get some things off my chest. um....alrighty then. eh hem... %

Smileys:) >:( >:) :( :p >:p....etc..

2005-04-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ya know...for some reason I've never quite gotten past that whole AIM thing of putting freakin smiley faces after my sentences. I started AIM in high school, and more than once I've caught myself slipping them into essays and homework assignments following an especially witty comment. I got to the point where I was one of those annoying people who, when chatting online, I would put at the end of practically every sentence. I wrote it off as being just really happy all the time, but I think I need help. Counseling of some sort. Do they have groups for this sort of thing? Let me know...

A computer of my very own!

2005-04-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, my mother did get married this Sunday. I gotta tell ya, it was the funniest wedding I've ever seen. We were all laughing. The preacher, of whose church my mother is a member, kept calling both of them the wrong name. Then my mom got real excited and started putting the ring on before she was supposed to. Realizing her mistake and going to take it off until time, she saw she had put the ring on the wrong finger, the fat finger, and she had a heck of time trying to get it off. Then the preacher had the nerve to ask a woman in her mid-forties to kneel down in a snug-fitting knee length dress. Needless to say her groom had to help going down and getting up. To see the look on my mother's face. But it was very short and sweet, and best of all...the cake was delicious;) As a result of my mother's marriage and her moving in with her husband, she gave her furniture to her roommate, my aunt, and gave her computer to me. Now I should have plenty of time to work on a website and update my blog....um, but I wouldn't hold your breath. Let's face it....I'm lazy as all get out. You're lucky I'm writing today. That's right...count it as a blessing:)

two subjects, totally unrelated

2005-04-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

First subject, my mother is getting married tomorrow as of last friday. she's been engaged for over a year, but still, this is short notice. I'm so happy for her, and I'm bringing her a cake made by the same people who made my cake. But um, she lives two hours away, so does anyone have like a big cooler I can use, ya know to keep the frosting from melting?:)
Next, is about me. I tired. My job is really wearing me out. Not that I don't love kids, but with me, the longer you work at my lifetouch, the more they train you for. And the more they train you for, the more you have do in one day. The suck part is that, since we have such a high turnover rate, most of the people I work with are only trained to do one thing, meaning if we photograph individual portriats, classroom group, freestyle portraits and sports teams in one day, I'm responsible for the last three. I don't want to make it seem that I'm complaining about this awesome job, that pays decent enough and gives me more photography experience, but I'm just ready for a break. There's only been two weeks when I haven't worked over 40 hours since September. But I guess I should take my blessing and be happy. Ya know, some people can't get jobs, some can't pay bills. I can.
As I'm writing now, I can't remember if I've ever even touched on my christianity. I bet no one even knows how important it is to me. How can they...if I don't talk about it. Sometimes it happens like that. When you step back and take a look at the things your life revolves around. I think a need a little time to figure out what my life is truly about.
I've been a practicing Christian since I was 13, since then the intensity of my faith wavers back and forth. When you graduate from college and everything you do is new and different. You move some where you've never been, you get married, have a career or at least a job lasting more than a year, it's all too easy to put God on the backburner. Maybe next time, I'll have more to say on that.

yesterday is gone

2005-03-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

Hello again. see, look at that two in the same month. I gotta get my own computer. What..I have a laptop. I have to get a new battery charger so that I can actually start using it again. The sad part is, I can probably get it on ebay for like 40 dollars. I'm just lazy. I got a new kitten a few weeks ago. Reminds me how much I don't like kittens. Her name is Sugar, and she's a siamese. hmm...that may not be spelled correctly. Anyway, she's only like 6 weeks old, she's incredibly cute and an incredible pain. She pees in the litterbox like a good little kitty, but seems to think I have a special little spot of carpet designed for cat poop. and she likes to scratch at everything. She attacks the air for no good reason. Poor air. I can't wait until she's an old lazy cat. Doesn't play, doesn't scratch, just curls up, goes to sleep and keeps my lap nice and warm.

My husband still works temp and this factory. I hate his job. I hardly ever see him because of our work schedules. Plus he's been working temp for like...3 months now. There's another guy there that's been temp for almost a year, and I'm pretty sure they keep them that so they don't have to pay them much or give them benifits, which in my opinion is pretty shady. I don't want my hubby working for shady people, not getting paid what he's worth, ya know?

Anywho, I kinda like writing short blogs...not a lot goes on in my life that would interest you...nothing I can remember anyway;)

Nothing in particular

2005-03-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

howdy...see this...see how i'm trying...only like...a week difference. We lost another person today at lifetouch and I hear we are losing two more next week. They're dropping like flies, which means the rest of us work like dogs. Pay is nice but I'm so tired. blah blah blah. Kinda hard to keep one of these when one's life is boring. By the by, today I have been married for 6 months. Yeah...what a landmark huh? I survived half a year living under the same roof the another person, a person with different opinions and annoying little quirks and sometimes, in my opinion, a certain degree of ignorance. Miracles like this are happening all over the world. People are tolerating each other. Being in love, is definately cool. I would recommend it to anyone really. I wonder how many other people have also been married 6 months today. 2 more that I know of in the same town. Apparantly labor day weekend is a popular time to get married.

Today I got called in to work for someone who was sick. I was so tired. I've been working like 13 hours days all week, and I was really looking forward to a day off. I have to work tomorrow too, photographing seniors. I'm been getting kind of tired of my job. Contemplating quiting and moving to Los Angeles. But...then there's that whole husband thing. but, life goes on, and I gotta go to my in-laws for fried catfish.

Too much time has passed..

2005-02-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

Man, I clearly do not get on the internet often enough...what was that I said earlier about filling this thing up? I think I forgot all about it. I have no website to post it on..To inform people of it, so no one will probably read this but me. Just as well...Who needs a lot of people in my business.
:) anyway...Things are still going great...Husband's still great, although the novelty has worn off a little. Our 6 month-iversary is coming up in a few days. I betcha we won't be doing anything. That's kind of the way it works. My job is going fine. I got somewhat of a promotion. Um..wait. For those who don't know I work for Lifetouch and we take school pictures, like for the yearbook, sport teams, classroom groups, that sort of thing. I've been working there for over a year and a half now, as a photographer. In January I was a offered the position of Assistant to the Photo Manager, along with one other photographer. We still photograph, but we also help maintain the equipment, like replacing broken or missing parts, and we also try to act as example for the other photographers, and do other little odd jobs to help out the photo mang. For making such a sacrifice, we get a nice little pay bonus, and more hours than most of the other photographers, which is great at a job like mine, ya know the hours per week, depend on the schools we get scheduled, and how far away, and how many schools are actually in session, one can get anywhere from 17 to 57 hours a week. But ya know, photographing is such a cool experience. It's not the type of Photography I had planned on doing. I went to school for photojournalism, but I dream of being a performing arts or movie stills photographer. but this type of photography is very gratifying. I mean think about; I'm photographing someone's child, their very own, their angel, their baby. Having a picture is swell, but all the more if it is a good picture, one that captures their smile. For some of these kids, school pictures are the only ones they ever take. Ya know and kids come up to me, and recognize me as their picture lady, and they give me hugs...of course I did run across a little kindergarten booger that refused to smile, made mean faces than yelled out "HA HA SUCKER!!!" as he ran from the camera.....but er....usually the kids are real nice...and they all smile at you. I gotta tell ya...I have more stories from working at lifetouch. If I think of any....I might tell you a few. But...I've been sitting down way too long. My butt hurts.

Let's get it started

2004-11-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hello hello...wow...this is incredible. My first blog. what an experience. Well...nothing much going on in my life...I've been all my dad's all day and his house is way to hot. My house has no heat...my husband is wonderful and life is blessed. I have major issues and problems in my life, but somehow that all seems to pale next to the happiness of being with the man I love with my whole heart, and the God I love with my whole heart. Hehe...yea...I got two whole hearts...so what:) Anyway...more later. I'm embarking on a time of extreme boredom as lifetouch closes down for the holidays, so I'm sure I'll feel this thing up in no time of chock full of useless mind-numbing information. I love it. Alrighty. Time to get out of here. I't been real, and it's been fun...but it ain't been real fun, if ya know what I mean.

peace